Romania PM Announces Dismissal Of All Social Democrat Secretaries Of State

Boc also stressed that each ministry will have maximum two secretaries of state from now on, which would entail hefty spending cuts.

Boc met Friday morning with former social democrat Education Minister Ecaterina Andronescu to take over the interim seat of education minister, after Andronescu and all other social democrat ministers resigned from the government Thursday.

Boc announced Thursday evening the structure of the new Government following the resignation of social democrat ministers.

Boc will take over the Education Ministry and all other ministers received interim seats at the helm of ministries quit by social democarts.

Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu will be interim head of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu will run the Health Ministry, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu will take over the Agriculture Ministry, Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea will be in charge of the Labor Ministry, Tourism Minister Elena Udrea will lead the Environment Ministry, Communications Minister Gabriel Sandu will be the interim minister for SMEs and Youth and Sports Minister Luminita Placinta will be in charge of the Ministry for the Relation with Parliament.

President Traian Basescu signed Thursday evening the decrees appointing interims. Boc said the interim period will last a maximum 45 daysand the justice minister will remain independent.

Romanian social democrat ministers in the center-left coalition government handed in their resignations Thursday after President Traian Basescu endorsed the democrat liberal prime minster’s decision to sack social democrat Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Dan Nica.